Sachsenring, Germany 2 July 2017: For the third time in 2017, Italian teenage grand prix rookie Marco Bezzecchi battled through into the points in today's German Grand Prix, at the pocket-handkerchief Sachsenring circuit near Chemnitz.
It was Bezzecchi's third time in the points, all in the last five races, adding also to the overall score of the only Indian constructor in the World Championship series.
The 18-year-old CIP Mahindra team rider added further lustre to his reputation as a promising prospect, after a patient race of poise and tactics. Starting from 18th position, he was pushed almost off the track in the first corner. After that he showed maturity as he held his position, near the back of a huge and tightly packed group.
Overtaking is difficult at the 3.671-km circuit, shortest and twistiest of the year; but Bezzecchi bided his time and waited until the closing laps. As other riders over-extended themselves in their efforts, he moved up two places on the last of 27 laps, and finished 15th.
One of his victims was Jakub Kornfeil, who was battling in or close to the top 15 all race long. Riding the Saxoprint Peugeot, a rebadged Mahindra MGP3O, the Czech rider was less than half-a-second behind Bezzecchi, but in 18th place.
Bezzecchi had also got ahead of Mugello winner Andrea Migno in the final battle.
Mahindra Aspar team rider Lorenzo Dalla Porta was one place down on Kornfeil in 19th, a couple of tenths ahead of second CIP Mahindra rider Manuel Pagliani. Second Mahindra Aspar rider Raul Fernandez, in his second ride in place of injured team regular Albert Arenas and only his fourth grand prix, was delighted to take top spot in damp morning warm-up, and finished 22nd in the race.
The championship circus breaks up now for the four-weekend summer break, before resuming business for the Czech Republic GP at Brno on August 6.
Marco Bezzecchi, CIP Team
"It was a very difficult race because at the start Loi made a mistake in the first corner, I got pushed wide as a result and I lost some positions. I had to push a lot to overtake other riders. I got behind Migno for quite a lot of the race and that helped me to stay in the group more. On the last lap I just pushed 100% and I overtook Migno and Kornfeil and got another point. I'm happy with what we have done this weekend, it was tough. Now it's time to relax a little during the summer break"
Mufaddal Choonia, CEO Mahindra Racing
"Marco once again showed he is capable of a strong race pace and to finish consistently in the points. But we are losing out in the first few laps, and not only because of poor qualifying positions. This leaves him with too much to do in the race. Now we have a few weeks off, and we will be working on our strategy to address this issue."
About Mahindra Racing
Mahindra Racing is the only Indian constructor in the series, having first participated in 2011. Competing with the-best-of-the-best in the world for six years running, it has seen phenomenal success since its debut in 2011.
Mahindra Racing supplies the Mahindra MGP3O – a single-cylinder, 4-stroke, 250cc motorcycle to the factory Aspar Mahindra Team and other customer teams. Mahindra also supplies an official Peugeot Motocycles derivative of the MGP3O to the factory Peugeot MC Saxoprint Team.
The 2017 Mahindra Racing rider line-up includes:
- Albert Arenas (SPA) and Lorenzo Dalla Porta (ITA) [Aspar Mahindra Moto3]
- Jakub Kornfeil (CZE) and Patrik Pulkkinen (FIN) [Peugeot MC Saxoprint]
- Manuel Pagliani (ITA) and Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) [CIP]
Mahindra Racing made history in the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix taking the first-ever podium for an Indian constructor in the MotoGP World Championship. In the same season, the MGP3O recorded top-five finishes, a pole position, three circuit lap records, and a third position in the Constructors’ Championship.
The 2014 season saw a further three podium finishes for the Indian constructor, including second place at the German Grand Prix.
In 2015, Mahindra Racing put up a fierce fight at the front of the pack throughout the season, and recorded a podium finish at the French Grand Prix.
2016 got off to a strong start with Aspar Mahindra Moto3 Team rider Francesco (Pecco) Bagnaia securing a third-place podium finish at the opening round in Qatar. The Italian teen picked up podiums in Jerez (Spain) and Mugello (Italy) before making his historic first win in Assen (Netherlands) – Mahindra's maiden victory in the World Championship. It proved the high-level performance capabilities of the MGP3O. Two more victories followed with John Mcphee dominating the field in a wet Czech Grand Prix and Pecco taking a wonderful seven-second win in the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Besides its commitment to the World Championship, Mahindra Racing supplies MGP3O machines to Team Aspar and Team LaGlisse in the World Championship feeder series – the FIM CEV Repsol International Championship (Moto3 JWC). Grand Prix legend Max Biaggi will spearhead Mahindra's effort in the 2017 Elf CIV – Italian National Championship.
Mahindra's bold decision to take on the world’s best at the highest level of motorcycle racing has won the team a number of prestigious awards in India, including:
- Mobil1 Motorsport Award | NDTV Car and Bike Awards, 2017, 2013, 2012
- Motosport Award | Autocar India, 2017
- Bikesport Award of the Year | Times Auto Awards, 2017
- Racing Bike of the Year | Zeeignition Auto Awards, 2016
- Motorsport Award | Bike India Magazine, 2013
- Motorsport Award of the Year | ZigWheels Awards, 2012
For further information please visit: www.mahindraracing.com.
About Mahindra
The Mahindra Group focuses on enabling people to rise through solutions that power mobility, drive rural prosperity, enhance urban lifestyles and increase business efficiency.
A USD 19 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra provides employment opportunities to over 200,000 people in over 100 countries. Mahindra operates in the key industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a leadership position in tractors, utility vehicles, information technology, financial services and vacation ownership. In addition, Mahindra enjoys a strong presence in the agribusiness, aerospace, components, consulting services, defence, energy, industrial equipment, logistics, real estate, retail, steel, commercial vehicles and two wheeler industries.
In 2015, Mahindra & Mahindra was recognized as the Best Company for CSR in India in a study by the Economic Times. In 2014, Mahindra featured on the Forbes Global 2000, a comprehensive listing of the world's largest, most powerful public companies, as measured by revenue, profit, assets and market value. The Mahindra Group also received the Financial Times 'Boldness in Business' Award in the 'Emerging Markets' category in 2013.
Visit us at www.mahindra.com.
Our Social Media Channels
twitter.com/MahindraRise
facebook.com/MahindraRise
For further enquiries
Mr. Darius Lam
General Manager
Group Communications
Mahindra Group
Phone: +91 22 2491 6818
lam.darius@mahindra.com
Mr. Harry Lloyd
Mahindra Racing Moto3TM press officer
HPS Jardine
Phone: +44 1628 450 731
Mobile: +44 7450 624 931
harry.lloyd@hpsjardine.com
